The 7th Infantry Division will host a press conference with Staff Sgt. Ty Michael Carter, on Joint Base Lewis-McChord, 10:30 a.m. Monday. Carter is scheduled to be awarded the Medal of Honor for conspicuous gallantry in a ceremony at the White House on August 26.

Carter will be the fifth living recipient to be awarded the Medal of Honor for actions in Iraq or Afghanistan. He and his family will join the President at the White House to commemorate his example of selfless service.

Sgt. 1st Class Kristopher Barnette, a Greenville, S.C., native, with 2nd Battalion, 3rd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division with the 7th Infantry Division, received Army Achievement Medal for for his professionalism, dedication and hard work as the division's 2013 Best Ranger Team, team coach and alternate competitor. The team placed 17th overall, out of nearly 50 teams, in the competition hosted at Fort Benning, Ga., earlier this year. "His knowledge and wisdom directly contributed to the team's overall success," said Lanza. "He represents positive leadership, and is an outstanding role model for soldiers."

One of Joint Base Lewis-McChord's servicemembers will be on hand for a special outdoor flag ceremony that will take place on Friday, June 7 on the Ouachita Baptist University campus in Arkansas. Maj. Johnpaul (J.P.) Arnold, a U.S. Army public affairs officer stationed at JBLM, returns to his alma mater to present a special American flag that was flown in Afghanistan to the university's School of Humanities. The university and event organizers welcome the general public to attend.

Following the ceremony and a prayer of dedication, the flag will be presented to the School of Humanities and Rogers Department of Communications for display in Lile Hall.

Arnold, an Arkansas native, is a 1994 Ouachita graduate who majored in mass communications and was a Major General Moise B. Seligman ROTC Scholar at the university.

In addition to Arnold's stellar academic career, he has been equally lauded for his military service. With two deployments to Iraq and one to Afghanistan, he has been awarded two Bronze Star Medals, a Defense Meritorious Service Medal, a Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Iraq and Afghanistan Campaign Medals, a NATO Medal and a Combat Action Badge.

One of the most well-known supporters of the Washington National Guard, Debra Grice, was awarded the Region 10 Volunteer of the Year Award last week for her numerous volunteer efforts.

"She doesn't just talk the talk, she walks the walk," said Joint Services Support for the Washington National Guard Director Tom Riggs. "She provides a key link of support between our volunteers and our Guardsmen."

Grice's husband is part of Headquarters, Headquarters Company, 81st Armor Brigade Combat Team on Camp Murray, and she has become instrumental in supporting him, his unit and the rest of the National Guard.

"I think it's important to have the support of the family when you have a Soldier who is involved," she said. "It is important to set a good example of what that support should look like."

If you're looking for an especially enjoyable way to spend Memorial Day with or in honor of a special veteran in your life, Monday, May 27, Safeco Field is hosting its first Veteran Appreciation Day. Discounted tickets will be offered for all "veterans, military and their families," as the Mariners' website states. The Mariners' grand battle against the San Diego Padres will begin at 1:10 p.m., but be sure to get there when the gates open at 11:10 to catch the pre-game show, which will be honoring approximately 65 veterans from many different eras and the resource fair in the 300 section arranged by the National Alliance to End Veterans Suicide. A portion of the proceeds from each ticket purchased will be donated to the Alliance; so just by going to the game you will be bringing benefits to an excellent cause.

Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel announced today the 2013 recipients of the Commander in Chief's Annual Award for Installation Excellence:

U.S. Army Garrison Fort Rucker, Ala.,

Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif.,

Naval Support Activity Panama City, Panama City Beach, Fla.,

Keesler Air Force Base, Biloxi, Miss.,

Defense Logistics Agency Land and Maritime, Columbus, Ohio.

The Commander in Chief's Annual Award for Installation Excellence recognizes the outstanding and innovative efforts of the people who operate and maintain U.S. military installations. The five recipients of this highly competitive presidential award were selected for their exemplary support of Department of Defense missions.

Installation excellence enables better mission performance and enhances the quality of life for servicemembers and their families. Each winning installation succeeded in providing excellent working, housing and recreational conditions.

Each winning installation will still receive a commemorative commander in chief's award trophy and flag, along with a congratulatory letter from the president.

Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. - Gen. John M. Shalikashvili, who served as the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from 1993 to 1997, passed away Saturday morning at Madigan Healthcare System, Joint Base Lewis-McChord. He was 75."The entire Joint Base Lewis-McChord community is saddened at the news of Gen. Shalikashvili's passing," JBLM officials said in a statement. "Throughout his career, Gen. Shalikashvili was a tremendous leader and mentor to thousands of servicemen and women, and as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff he represented our nation and its military with great dignity and success. Locally, he has been a stalwart supporter to our military community, a trusted adviser to military leaders at the base and a friend to the entire region. He will be missed, and we extend our deepest condolences to his family, friends and loved ones."According to The News Tribune, A public memorial service is scheduled for Aug. 6 at the Greater Tacoma Convention & Trade Center downtown. Details of the event will be released this week, a family spokeswoman said, and a funeral service will be held at Arlington National Cemetery.

Staff Sgt. Nathan Norton, pointing, and Sgt. Otilio Vasquez, right, both assigned to D Co., 2-75 Rngr., look for Rangers from their company while watching a live broadcast of the Medal of Honor ceremony honoring Sgt. 1st Class Leroy Petry July 12.

Duane Hardesty's across-the-street neighbor is a lot like anyone else's. He mows the lawn, washes his car and occasionally comes over to sit on the porch and talk.

That's where his neighbor, Sgt. 1st Class Leroy A. Petry, 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, was on an evening in May, after the White House announced that he would receive the Medal of Honor for conspicuous gallantry in Afghanistan.

Petry, who lost his right hand throwing a grenade away from his fellow Rangers in 2008, and his wife Ashley, were sitting outside the Hardestys' home in Steilacoom, Wash., when the congratulatory texts and calls started to arrive. But in spite of his recent notoriety, friends and fellow Soldiers say he's the same guy he's always been - and that they couldn't be prouder.

"It's an incredible honor to know them personally and just be able to be a help to them," he said of the Family.

Hardesty, a retired Army colonel, works for a private contractor that assists severely wounded servicemembers. He remembers every detail of the first time he saw Petry without his hand. He had just returned from a business trip when his wife came into his study.

"I thought she'd seen a ghost or something," Hardesty said.

His wife told him Leroy and Ashley wanted to see him. When he came outside, he could see right away his neighbor's hand had been amputated at the wrist.

"I just gave him a bear hug and we cried for a while," Hardesty said.

Staff Sgt. Nathan Norton, 2-75 Rngr., has other vivid memories of Petry. He was part of the mission that day in Afghanistan, but couldn't be at the White House ceremony on Tuesday. Instead, he watched with the rest of D Company (Petry's former company) at Farrelli's Wood Fire Pizza in DuPont, Wash.

"I can't congratulate him enough," Norton said.

He remembers the events of May 26, 2008 as though they happened in slow motion, and knew even then what an incredible thing he was witnessing. There was no question in anyone's mind that Petry deserved to be nominated for the award, Norton said.

Aside from his missing hand, though, not much about Petry has changed. Before, he was known for always joking around - maybe even a little too much. Now his prosthetic arm just gives him another prop to be the goofy guy he always was.

"How the President described him is pretty much how he is," Sgt. 1st Class Aric Daldon, who's known Petry about six years, said after the ceremony.

Now Petry works with other wounded, injured and ill Soldiers at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, and Hardesty said there's no better man for that job, or to set an example as a Medal of Honor recipient.

"He's so focused on making sure he represents not only the Army, but every warrior (who has) ever worn a uniform," he said.

Hardesty expects that when Petry comes back to the house across the street, he and his Family will be just as humble, dedicated and duty-driven as they've always been. But he knows one thing for certain - the next time he sees his neighbor, he's going to salute him.

The Captain Meriwether Lewis Association of the U.S. Army Chapter was notified Tuesday evening by AUSA national that it has won the Best Chapter of the Year award, according to chapter president Carlene Joseph.

It's the first time the chapter has won the award.

"Congrats to the Captain Meriwether Lewis chapter and all of the subchapters ... you rock!," Joseph wrote in an announcement.